A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 323

Xenia bolted up the stairs, shouting, “You shameless parasites, put everything back where you found it!”

One of the servants glanced down coolly. “Is there nowhere to put them? We’ll just leave them in the living room, then.”

With that, both servants tilted their arms, sending a cascade of clothes, books, and personal effects tumbling down the stairs. They landed with a series of dull thuds, scattering across the floor and turning the immaculate living room into a chaotic mess.

Xenia, already on the edge, completely snapped. “Starla, you bitch! Get out of my house, and take your freaks with you!”

The insult had barely left her lips when Garret, standing behind Starla, gave one of the servants a subtle nod. The servant moved with startling speed, striding up the stairs and striking Xenia across the face with a clean, sharp slap.

The crisp sound echoed through the mansion, silencing Xenia’s tirade.

Darleen froze, staring in disbelief. She couldn't fathom that Starla would dare to do such a thing.

Xenia, clutching her stinging cheek, was equally stunned. Before she could react, another slap cracked across her other cheek, just as hard as the first.

The sound seemed to snap a taut wire in everyone’s chest.

Xenia went berserk, her eyes wild with rage. “You absolute—”

“Slap!”

Before she could finish the curse, the servant’s hand met her face again, cutting her off.

Xenia gasped for breath, her eyes fixed on the servant in front of her. She raised her own hand to strike back, but her wrist was caught in an iron grip. She was completely immobilized.

Xenia saw what was happening and tried to scramble to her feet, but the servant stepped firmly on her hand, pinning it to the stair. A sharp, piercing scream tore from her lips.

Starla's servant had completely neutralized both Darleen and Xenia. Amid the chaos, another servant approached Starla with a freshly squeezed glass of juice. “Miss, your juice. The kitchen needs a little more time.”

Starla murmured her thanks, took the glass, and began to sip it with unhurried elegance.

Darleen felt her consciousness slipping away. Xenia watched her mother’s face turn a ghastly shade of blue and screamed at Starla, “Starla, you depraved—ah!”

The foot on her hand pressed down harder, turning her insult into a cry of agony.

For the first time in their lives of privilege and power, Darleen and Xenia were utterly helpless, pinned and broken by someone else's will.